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This is really interesting to me that they would let someone go because of wearing a head scarf- I know that American brands like Abercrombie is really popular abroad- especially in Germany and Turkey where it is considered more of a luxury/high end product because of its American qualities. Abercrombie risks this image because many of their customers abroad, especially in those two regions are muslims and losing their support in the international market could harm their bottom line more then a dress code violation could.

This is awful, especially because the firing came from a district manager who should be trained better and just flat out ethical. While I was abroad I noticed how much Europeans loved Abercrombie and thought of it to be a very exclusive brand because to them it is fairly uncommon. I am glad their sales have decreased that much and if they continue to act like this and discriminate then they are going to go no where overseas.

This is just ridiculous and very embarrassing for Abercrombie. Honestly, I'm surprised their sales are not down more than 10%, but I have a feeling that they are going to keep decreasing if they continue to handle these situations the way that they have been.

I like it! I want to be recognized, greeted, and assisted if I need to be. I can see where some people may feel uncomfortable but employees should be trained when to know when a person wants more help or to be left alone.

I find this kind of stuff extremely interesting. I honestly like that stores can track me like this because this means that they are more likely to send coupons and deals my way for the things I want to buy. I also think this is a great way for stores to get the perfect layout of their store by seeing where certain demographics walk around.

This is significant because it has implications beyond just marketing to consumers. The question is, how far should we trespass into citizens (aka customers) rights in order to improve the customers experience? This isnt JUST another marketing ploy, it's an experiment in eroding consumer privacy... and it's working. Marketers realize how little consumers are informed of their own behavior and by association they realize lengths to which they can go. But as privacy erodes, what do we really gain? Sure, it's great they can send us coupons and build our customer profile, but did companies consult the consumer and get consent to do this? Is this data collection all passively done because companies know the taboo behind privacy issues? What does this type of intrusion open up in the future? I think this is seen as simply "the way things are" because we are all desensitized to businesses (and governments) violating the privacy of information. I would like to point out that historically when masses of people in power simply accept things the way they are that's when really really bad things happen (slavery, child labor, exploitation, etc). Passive accumulation of this information seems to me complicit with those who actively accumulate this information- they're both invasions. We must critically think about how allowing such invasions actually works to shape the physical and mental landscapes of our lives, are we actually prepared to deal with the consequences? So, while it may seem like this is just another marketing ploy, we instead should see this as actually another breach of private information which will continue to shape consumer behavior.

Topshop is a European retailer that has a very unique store layout. Do you think it is important for a unique retailer like Topshop to have a unique store layout? Do you think it was a smart move to have the store layout be different than it is in the U.K. or the same?

I think Topshop will be about the experience just as much or more than just a place for consumers to shop. With the unique store layout and variety of merchandise varying in price from $20 - $600, I think this will be a unique experience for consumers and become a place they want to shop. Also, I love how all the "rooms" are a little bit different--I think it would make a consumer feel like they were going to multiple little boutiques under one roof.

One of the components that set unique retailers apart is the store layout and Topshop has done that well in the UK. I have visited the Topshop in Chicago and love the layout. I think it is fun, trendy, and one of the reasons it is successful -- people enjoy the experience. Topshop in the UK has unique store layout -- so why not transfer that same idea to the US in a little bit of a different way? It was smart of them to change the store layout and has seemed to be successful so far.

Wow what a very interesting article! The pictures that were taken, definitely did a great job of showing how Sears actually presents itself in today's world. Moving forward, what will entice Sears to change this look? Are changes even feasible at this point?

I think it is great that Macy's is renovating it's iconic Manhattan store. Macy's used to only be found in New York - the iconic shopping experience with one of the largest department stores in the world. Now that Macy's is everywhere (having bought out all the regional department chains) there isn't as much reason to go to the main New York location if it's just another Macy's. They are continuing to innovate and make it a reason to come and visit - with restaurants, marble flooring, etc. It's a special place and they are bringing back it's original luster with a 21st century upgrade! I'm anxious to hear feedback about the new look after it's completed in 2015!

I think it is a good step of Macy's to increase the size of their men's department. Most propably there is no way an expansion of the women's department would increase sales by a proportional amount. Furthermore, having a bigger variety might invite more men to shop at Macy's and who knows, they might bring their wife or the other way round...

This article talks about Macy's increasing the size of the store, specifically the men's department. They are looking to categorize each floor to have a particular experience. Do you think this expansion is excessive or a good step forward? Do you feel that stores that have specific categorized sections succeed and what have been your experiences in similar situations?

I agree. I like Macy's and I shop there for Christmas especially but I don't ever go to the men's department because I don't think they have a good spread or variety. I would shop there if they did expand this section. It would be so much more convenient to shop all in one place than go store to store.

This article explains ways retailers such as Toys-R-Us and K-Mart are using layaway, return policies, and reward programs to get consumers into their stores to ultimately make transactions. Can you think of other retailers who are implementing these types of incentives? Have any of you ever put something on layaway? Do you think these incentives/programs are beneficial for retailers?

I actually really like this idea of offering deals to get people in the store early, it reduces the revenues lost with huge black friday price cuts by offering a more relaxed approach. It also would help the company make sure they don't run out of stock of a certain item. Having more customers in the store before the heavy Christmas shopping starts gives them a view on what will be popular and will help them forecast better and make sure they don't have missed sales opportunities.

I think extending the return policy is good because it allows for someone to use the products as gift for Christmas. I don't know what I think about having sales earlier. If they keep doing this, soon sales for Christmas are going to be six months out of the year then it's going to be all year; I mean how long is too long?

This article discusses not only the importance of having proper store layout within the retail industry, but also effective ways in which to employ displays and signage for optimum performance. Can you think of any retailers that have an effective use of store layouts or displays? Can you think of any examples that poorly utilize these attributes?

It's so interesting to think about how all these things in the article play into the store experience. We as customers do not really think about it when we are in the store, but seeing some of the aspects the authors talk about as being important, it is apparent we subconsciously notice. While working at Express, we used point of purchase displays and also a ton of promotion and sales signs. It's cool to see how much impact these little things have on how much customers will buy, etc.

For example, Fossil has a SALE sign outside of the store that generates customers to come into the store. It is an effective way for people to be drawn, and once they are in, the sale is located in the back. That way the customer has to walk through the entire store before seeing markdown items. The layout will describe the ease of walking through the store for customers and how organized they are which I believe are important to focus on.

This is another fantastic article discussing the different types of store layouts and examples of how they are used. Try and think of an example of a store that uses each different type of layout - you might need it for our discussion!

This article was really interesting. I have never really considered how stores are set up to make sure I am viewing the post product. Stores use the layout and really consider product placement and register placement in order to make sure that customers are having the optimal experience when in store. It would be interesting to see how smaller retailers consider their stores.

This article lists some retailers that have been exceptional in their customer service. As I will be talking about Pre-purchase customer service, you can focus on that while reading what the firms are doing. How has your experience been with each of them?

Good article! I heard about the tire-Nordstrom story and it really brought in a lot of publicity for the company. Interesting to see that those extreme customer services do not get too much abused by clients and still pay off . However I think it always depends on the company size. A small shop with excellent customer service always runs in danger of spending too much money and not getting enough word of mouth.

The customer service these companies provide to customers is amazing. These are some of the reasons that they are successful and stand out to consumers. I agree with Angelo that I am surprised people do not take advantage of these companies. I always respect companies and prefer to go to ones with better customer service in the end.

This is an article that gives advice on tactics that businesses should implement in order to create a positive follow up experience with customers after a purchase has been made. After reading the article can you think of any retailers that you have noticed that use any of these tactics particularly well or poorly?

These different ways to follow-up with a customer are fantastic. After delivering the goods, giving ongoing customer support is crucial to keeping the customer in your fanbase and to keep purchasing products from your company. The different ways to utilize an ancient tool (email) just goes to show that no matter how old a marketing tool is, it can still be effective.

I think a follow up is good and keeping a presence but it should have boundaries. I get the Xbox newsletter which gives new content and games added and also contests. It keeps its name running in my head and that makes me feel more involved. If I had an e reader though, I don't think I would like follow up e-mails about support, AN e-mail would be fine just to make sure the customer is used to the product and to outline the support they offer so I have something to refer to, anything past that, besides some news on new devices they are offering, would just seem annoying to me. If it is something available for them to seek out then my mind changes though. Using social media to "build the tribe" seems like a good idea as long as it is there to be sought out not pushed upon their customers in on-going e-mails.

Great article to read for our guest speaker next week, Lisa Hudson

I think this strategy to attract the Millennials is a great idea! With the omnichannel integration and creating a better in-store experience for the consumers, I believe this will be very beneficial for Macy's. Almost all millennials are on either a mobile or tablet device so I think the omnichannel integration will be greatly utilized by the millennials.

Please read before Tuesday - outstanding operating results for Macy's!

I think the numbers are very impressive, but I am wondering what percentage of Macy's increased earnings are from existing customers or new customers? I think this is an important area to pay attention to, especially when forecasting the next quarter's earnings because Macy's needs this information to determine if its earnings will continue to increase, or if a burst of new customers in the prior quarter ignited the increased earnings.

I agree with Paige. Macy's need to figure out if these are loyal or new customers. But I wouldn't look at it in a way as to if their next quarter will be higher. I would want this information to know whether my win back or new customer marketing campaign is working, and then fix the other one. That way I then can guarantee the next quarter will be another gain.

Green Mountain Coffee is opening a Keurig Store to hopefully get to know more about their customers and offer on site demos, special promotions, new product offerings, and unique accessories for the Keurig to customers

This is an interesting strategy for Keurig. Like Lindsey mentioned, it'll be interesting to see how this effects the companies over all sales. Although the venture will provide fantastic PR, the question is whether he gains will outweigh the costs. I agree with Lindsey again though, it is likely that a majority if the visitors will be non-existing customers, of whom will leave with a positive experience and thus opt to buy a Keurig machine of their own. It will also be interesting to see the "accessories" that will be available for sale. These products would appeal to the existing customers, but would also highlight their need to "update" their Keurig models and thus consume more of the brands products. It would be great to see Keurig develop their "eco-friendly" line a bit further. It consists of k-cups that are recycle friendly. Ufortunately these products are quite a bit more expensive, a problem Keurig is already facing; making products more available to a larger demographic.

This article was fascinating to me! This is another example of how companies who used to be primarily product only or even online only want customer feedback and input. I think the idea is great - to let people use the machine to see how it works and how it can work in their everyday lives. But the location 14 miles outside Boston is a little far away I feel. I hope it is successful - already the outside looks sleek, classy, and expensive and I think the design alone with get people into the door to explore the concept. Since their goal isn't to sell, sell, sell but rather to experience and learn from consumers, I think it will work. But I do agree in this still tight economy, going to your local Walmart or Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy the same coffee pods is realistic.

How limited offers can make consumers perceive products as better than they actually are.

I really liked this article because I was able to find aspects where I can really relate. One thing that came to mind is durning Christmas/winter months, Hershey's releases candy cane peppermint kisses. I have associated these with only that time and I'll buy more of them specifically because I know they won't be here long. I don't feel like this is something we as consumers need to learnt o say no to. I think it is merely a marketing ploy that works well. For those from Indiana, or other similar states in terms of seasonal changes, I feel like we are all somewhat trained with this mentality due to our seasonal changes. Towards the end of Winter we can't wait for Spring and so on. I ink it would be interesting to see did there is any difference related to this scarcity concept among people from Indiana for example versus Florida. I think it would make sense that people in Indiana may buy more of something associated with winter during that time due to the temperatures we experience versus Florida who would still have that winter spirit, but not the weather to further encourage it. It could have no effect, but I think it's interesting to think about.

Be sure to watch the video in this article on how this AR app is going to work.

I think this is an amazing concept! Now not only have they made online shopping more fun and interactive but it is also a much more efficient way of shopping for the right piece of furniture. You no longer have to worry about taking measurements or samples to make sure the furniture matches up with the room. Instead, you can virtually place the chosen piece right in the room with accurate measurements and design and see how it looks before even buying it!

This app seems super exciting. I love rearranging and decorating my own room and this app allows for people to physically see an idea on a screen that was originally just a vision. It is great to see how more and more companies are integrating omni-channel retailing to improve the customer experience whether it be online, in store, and mobile.

This article discusses how Whole Foods is trying to position itself as a go-to grocery store. Do you think this is a good move for Whole Foods? Do you think their position as a organic and higher end health only grocery is a better position for them?

I think loyal customers will recognize that the brand is capitalizing on helping a community grow. I think it will help the brand because it's consumers are interested in helping the community and creating sustainable environments.

I think this article is very interesting because I had the same thoughts when learning that Whole Foods was expanding into these new areas. Since Whole Foods is considered a high-end grocery store, it really made me question what its marketing strategy actually is and if they are making the right decision by entering into these markets. I truly think this will be a challenge for Whole Foods because they are dealing with a market that is not truly its target market, but if they succeed I think this will strengthen Whole Foods' brand more than any other grocer.

This article discusses why consumers typically jump on impulse buys. Being knowledgeable of these triggers will make the buyer more aware in the future.

I think this article perfectly describes a lot of purchases made on black Friday. I have made a lot of purchasing decisions on this list. This is exactly how stores draw people into their stores by offering a huge sale but only for a limited time. Or for online shopping stores sometimes offer free shipping for a limited time in order to create impulse purchases.

I totally agree with Emily. After working the last three Black Fridays at Express, it's amazing to see how impulsive customers are when buying items. I am definitely one of those people as well, especially in a huge sale environment. You ask yourself "will it ever be this price again?" And if the answer is no, I will probably buy it.

I agree with the article, that loyalty programs are not working. In my own experience there are only TWO kinds of loylty programs that are working somehow. Firstly, a loyalty program that is introduced by a brand/shop/store that I am already loyal with, e.g. the favourite coffee shop, or the closest supermarket. In those shops a loyalty program might even lead customers to buy more and appreciate it. Secondly, what I think is also working are loyalty programs introduced by a pool of shops. E.g. in Germany we had PayBack for a long time, which was a joint loyalty program that gave you points in almost any major retailer in Germany, so it was used by a lot of people. Noone wants to have 10 or 15 loyalty program plastic cards in their wallet, though...

I believe one of the largest reasons why loyalty is such an obstacle in today's markets is primarily due to fast paced, innovative society that we live in now. Consumers are becoming so oriented to 'the next big thing' that it is increasingly difficult for businesses to keep up with this rapid changing of trends, especially considering the small window a product has before it is one-upped.

I thought this was interesting to read as I myself have several loyalty cards to various places. I never put much thought into it, but after this article it really emphasizes the fact that I. Not really loyal to the brand as much as e transactional benefits. Given an alternate and similar option at a better price I would probably jump ship from those I support now to something different. It may not create the sincere loyalty, but it has worked in keeping me to returning to certain places for the transactional benefits, so it doesn't seem like a total failure.